The fish was found hidden under the counters of the fish stalls and another area in the market by a joint operations team comprising personnel from the Kota Kinabalu marine police and the Sabah Fisheries Department.
In a statement issued Thursday , Sabah Marine Police commander ACP Mohamad Pajeri Ali said the operation, which was conducted at 12.30pm, was the result of several days of surveillance of the area, conducted with the aim of identifying traders involved in the illicit sales.The case has been submitted to the Fisheries Department for further investigation under Section 26 of the Fisheries Act 1985, which carries a maximum sentence of an RM20, 000 fine or two years of imprisonment, or both.